Control device for cloth-finishing machines



Oct. 3, 1950 J. DUNGLER CONTROL DEVICE FOR CLOTH-FINISHING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1947 m M U. a W N mm 1 Q 8 w w. r h @MOWII 8 mm m m @N QN mw 2:1: 6? mm P w H mm Patented Oct. 3, 1950 CONTROL DEVICE FOR CLOTH-FINISHING MACHINES J ulien Dungler, Basel, Switzerland Application April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,265 In France April 9, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 9, 1966 3 Claims.

This invention deals with improvements in or relating to textile machines and more particularly to cloth finishing machines to which fabric or cloth is supplied and concerns the control mechanism therefor.

The new apparatus hereinafter described is principally characterized by a member which is actuated by rotative movement transmitted by a rotatable element which is in direct or indirect contact with the cloth moved past said element.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for sensitively controlling the electric circuits to the auxiliary devices of the textile machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means facilitating actuation and control of said circuits by utilizing the effect of centrifugal force for closing or opening respective electric circuits.

These and other objects are accomplished and this invention accordingly consists of the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof as appearing on the attached drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hercinabove shown and described.

One of many possible forms of the invention is disclosed in the annexed drawing and is more schematically shown.

Fig. 1 is a front-elevational view of the apparatus embodying the invention, a front part of said apparatus being removed and cut off to show the interior of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. l a spur wheel or rotatable plate I provided with a groove in which a rubber ring 2 is held which facilitates direct control during the movement of cloth or fabric if said rubber ring frictionally engages the latter. Spur wheel I is loosely mounted for rotation on spindle 3.

Spindle 3 is supported in housing l9,which is made of a suitable insulating material. In the interior of said housing, there is mounted on suitable pivots 25a, 251) a vertical axle 25 including a bearing housing 26 in which is fulcrumed at 28 an inclinedly disposed mercury switch devlce 21. The lowermost part of said device 21 (opposite the poles or terminals) is thus supported by a threaded pin 28 which engages and passes through the wall of bearing 26 so as to permit adjustment of the inclined position of the glass tube of the mercury switch device 21, as is well understood. Conductors 31 leading, respectively, through fixed Journals 25c, 25d to pivots 25a, 25b connect the terminals of the device 21 with a terminal box 38 for controlling the electric circuits. Axle 25 is rotatable through spur wheel I, which, in turn, is in engagement with friction roller 29 adjustably connected to axle 25 by means of a set screw 39. Thus, the position of the friction roller 29 with respect to spur wheel I may be varied as to its distance from axle 3 which permits ready regulation of the speed of axle 25.

The friction between spur wheel I and friction roller 29 is ensured by a helical spring 3| which presses against the hub of spur wheel I.

Th inclination of mercury switch device 21 is so chosen that in the position of rest, the

mercury will assume a position opposite the two poles of an electric circuit.

When spur wheel I is set in motion upon engagement of the cloth with rubber ring 2, axle 25 is driven by means of friction roller 29 and performs a rotation, whereby under the effect of the resultant centrifugal force the mercury is propelled to the other extremity of mercury switch tube 21. and establishes contact between the poles of said switch device. The electric circuit is thus closed (through pivots 25a, 25b and conductors 31) which sets in operation the auxiliary (electrical as well as electro-magnetic) devices of the machine. As soon as the movement of the advancing cloth is interrupted or ceases, the rotation of spur wheel l will also come to an end and the mercury, due to its gravity, will assume again the lowermost position intube device 21.

In the embodiment shown, wheel I is provided with a grooved pulley 32 which serves the purpose of actuating the apparatus as used in connection with machines running at relatively reduced speed, the motive force being eifectuated by a belt drive which in turn is driven by passing the fabric over a suitable roller.

The apparatus may be further equipped with a quick-acting brake device which stops the movement of spur wheel I. When used in connection with machines of high speed and if the cloth runs off at its end, the machine may still continue .1 to turn idly. This brake device consists of a metal shoe 33 which is mounted at one end of a lever 34 which is pivoted at 35 on a support mounted on housing l9 and whose other end carries a roller 39 for contact with the cloth 2|. At the running off end of cloth 2!, the metal shoe 33 will come immediately in contact against the rim of spur wheel I whereby the electric and electro-magnetic auxiliary devices are put out of action.

It is well understood that other devices than the mercury switch arrangement may be em ployed and that the centrifugal action may be increased by shifting of a weight or the like under centrifugal force so as to quickly establish contact or that a spring may be employed to retract the switch to its position of rest upon interruption of or stopping the movement.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in accordance with this invention a controlling mechanism comprising a casing of insulating material, a horizontal spindle supported by and extending through said housing, a spur wheel loosely carried by said spindle and adapted to frictionally engage a cloth moved past said spur wheel, means for releasably coupling said spindle to said spur wheel, an axle in said casing and arranged perpendicular to said spindle, a friction Wheel carried by said axle and in engagement with said spur wheel, whereby said axle may be rotated upon engagement of said cloth with said spur wheel, and a mercury switch device mounted on said axle, whereby upon rotation of said axle and due to centrifugal force developed by said axle said mercury switch device operates an electric circuit passing through the terminals of said mercury switch device.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as man changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore explained or shown in the accompanying drawing, are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A controlling mechanism for feeding or supplying lengthy fabric or cloth comprising a casing of insulating material, a horizontal spindle supported by said casing, a rotatable element loosely mounted on said spindle and for rotation thereon upon frictional engagement of said element with said cloth moving in contact with said element, means on said spindle for displacing said element in axial direction of said spindle, a rotatable axle arranged in said casing and perpendicular to said spindle, a friction roller arranged for adjustment on said axle and engaging said element .a

when axially displaced, whereby rotation of element will be transmitted to said rotatable axle, a mercury switch device including opposed terminals, said switch device being supported by said axle in inclined position, whereby the mercury of said switch device assumes a position remote from said terminals, said element, when rotated, transmitting through said friction roller rotative movement to said axle, whereby due to the centrifugal force developed by said axle said mercury is propelled to said terminals to close an electric circuit passing through said terminals of 4 said mercury switch device, and brake means journalled on said casing and including contact means for normally engaging said cloth and a brake shoe for engaging said rotatable element upon disengagement of said contact means from said cloth.

2. A controlling mechanism for feeding lengthy fabric, cloths and like material comprising a casing of insulating material, a horizontal spindle supported by and extending into said casing, a spur wheel rotatable on said spindle and adapted to frictionally engage said material when the same is in contact with said spur wheel durin feeding operation, an axle perpendicular to said spindle and including opposed pivots journaled in said casing and arranged for rotation about said pivots, a friction wheel carried by and arranged for adjustment lengthwise of said axle, means on said spindle urging said spur wheel against said frction wheel, whereby said axle is rotated about said pivots upon engagement of said material with said spur wheel, a mercury switch device having terminals and mounted on said axle, whereby upon rotation of said axle and due to centrifugal force developed by said axle rotation the mercury of said switch device operates an electric circuit passing through the terminals of said mercury switch device and said pivots of said axle, and electric conductor means, respectively, connected to said pivots of said axle.

3. A controlling mechanism for feeding lengthy fabric, cloths and like material comprising a casing, a horizontal spindle supported by and extending into said casing from therewithout, a spur wheel on said spindle without said casing and adapted to rotate thereon when the material is in contact with said spur wheel during feeding operation, an axle including a bearing, said axle extending perpendicular to said spindle and terminating in opposed pivots journaled within said casing, a friction wheel arranged on and for adjustment lengthwise of said axle, means on said spindle urging said spur wheel against said fric tion wheel, whereby said axle is rotated about said pivots upon engagement of said material with said spur wheel, a mercury switch device having terminals and mounted for adjustment within the bearing on said axle, whereby upon rotation of said axle and due to centrifugal force developed by said axle rotation the mercury of said switch device operates an electric circuit passing through the terminalsof said mercury switch device and said pivots of said axle, and electric conductor means, respectively, connected to the journals of said pivots of said axle.

JULIEN DUNGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 786,797 Cooker Apr. 11, 1905 1,242,730 Siegel Oct. 9, 1917 2,098,226 Charter Nov. 9, 1937 2,115,603 Wilcox Apr. 26, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 101,245 Germany Jan. 24, 1899 

